How can I lower the rear height?

by **Rizrtse** » 03 Mar 2007 3:55

Hey guys...been a while. My restored 70 RTSE has new leaf springs and the car sits about 1" higher in the rear than I would like. I know over time the car will settle a bit but its been 4 years and it still sits a bit high for my liking. Any ideas?

by **fbernard** » 03 Mar 2007 8:58

You can get custom shackles with several holes that will help you move the rearmost spring eyelets higher. Same goes for the spring hangers, some have several holes too.

Check the usual suspects (MagnumHP and Magnum Force, Mancini, etc.)
For example :
http://www.magnumhp.com/showdetails.php?ITEM=am-35611
http://www.magnumhp.com/showdetails.php?ITEM=are-39

by **Rizrtse** » 05 Mar 2007 3:53

Excellent...thx...I have seen threads that say using these could cause the shackle to hit the rear valence under acceleration.....what do you think? I know I got rid of the hemi leaf sprimgs because that was happening maybe due to a slightly stiffer spring...?

by **dave-r** » 05 Mar 2007 10:16

What size wheels and tires are on the back. I forget.

I was just wondering what diameter they work out to be. Any combo less than 26 inches diameter will look too small.

The other thing to do is take them to a spring repairers/manufacturers and get them to take an inch out. It is a simple job for them.

by **Rizrtse** » 06 Mar 2007 2:21

Dave, 15" rims on 245/60 tires....how do they take an inch out of the springs? Even if I had taller tires i do not like the stance. I can raise the front t-bars but like the tuck look up front right now.

by **dave-r** » 06 Mar 2007 9:42

Same way that they form them to that shape to start with.

Remember than the steel starts out as flat. Not curved.

They will re-heat the springs in a big oven and take a little of the bend out of them. Then they will be re-tempered.

I had my springs made from scratch at a place that usually repair truck springs (not any cars made with leaf springs these days).
It turned out I had got my sums wrong and mine sat too high. I took them back and had some taken out. They dropped slightly more than I wanted but, when i dropped the front to match, like you I liked the look of the wheels tucked up into the wheel wells slightly.

by **dave-r** » 06 Mar 2007 9:44

Rizrtse wrote:Dave, 15" rims on 245/60 tires.....

26.5 inches tall then. :thumbsup:

by **Eddie** » 06 Mar 2007 14:09

Rizrtse wrote:Hey guys...been a while. My restored 70 RTSE has new leaf springs and the car sits about 1" higher in the rear than I would like. I know over time the car will settle a bit but its been 4 years and it still sits a bit high for my liking. Any ideas?

Be careful about those beefy adjustable hangar replacements. Many will NOT fit the dual valance cutouts. I know I tried.

Thanks

Re: How can I lower the rear height?